Lately, I’ve been having so much fun creating and swapping pocket letters with others across the US. So, for today’s Creative Embellishments post, I incorporated elements from their September Challenge. I decided to create a Back to School themed PL for my trade partner since I was inspired by the letters, numbers, and colors in this this month’s inspo image. I did not use this as an example for the challenge though because I did not incorporate this month’s twist (stamp an image in the background of your project).

Here’s the CE September Challenge Inspo Image if you’d like to play along this month or would like to see the inspiration for my project:

For today’s project, I created another fun altered Loaded Envelope for a swap. Creative Embellishments’ laser cut chipboard, wood veneer, rubber stamps, stencils, and flair buttons are perfect for creating fun and dimensional pieces for LE’s! They fun to alter and hold up to wet and dry mediums beautifully. to start out, I created the base of my loaded envelope by making the main pocket 6″ x 9″ with a gusset to allow for expansion. Then added a smaller front pocket that is also gusseted. Attached to the back is a 6″ x 9″ policy envelope that is adhered directly on the top, but attached with an accordion folded piece on the bottom to allow it to stand on its own like an easel. I applied the pink lace trim with a thin ribbon woven through it along the top edge of the envelop and along the top of the back piece as well. Then added the sequined blue lace to the sides and front of the smaller pocket. On top of that, I added the beaded lace piece. I altered the pocket by splattering it with black acrylic paint and white gesso, adding bits of the altered CE Wave Panel (I used blue acrylic paint mixed with white to create the pale blue shade), and layering a bit of cheese cloth. The chipboard pieces (mermaid, shells, flourish set 31, and coral) were all altered using PITT markers, and Lindy’s Stamp Gang color shots for a bit of shimmer. The wood veneer pieces (anchor and boat wheel) were altered with acrylic paint and PITT markers.

The main envelope, large tag, and wand:

I then added plastic “dew drops” as a finishing touch. Close up of the front pocket:

The 2 steampunk tags were created by splattering them with black acrylic paint, and white gesso, and stamping using both the Distressed Text Stamp and the Distressed Grid stamp. The gears (I used 2 sizes 3/4″ and 1″) were altered using acrylic paint. For both the Steampunk Mermaid 2 piece on the left and Steampunk Mermaid on the right, I used a combination of acrylic paint and PITT markers. It’s hard to see, but I used metallic markers to give the mermaids rainbow hair. 🙂 In this pic, there are 3 smaller tags (1 regular and 2 pocket tags), a stuffed mini policy envelope, 2 regular stuffed mini envelopes, and 3 altered paper clips:

Close up of the steampunk pocket tag and the altered jumbo paper clips it holds:

To embellish the back, I started some of the same trims I used on the front, then added bits of the wave panel that were left over from the front, then layered cheese cloth over it, then added flourish 21, some shells, another crab, and more die cut pieces from the Kaisercraft die cut packet. Close up of the embellished back of the LE:

Using a Fuse tool, I created a shaker card for fun. 😀 I altered this mermaid the same way I altered the other one from this set. buried in the sequins and glitter, there is a starfish along with a conch shell, and some more cardstock die cuts. Though the Fuse tool did a good job closing up the pocket, I added washi tape to seal all the edges as a safeguard since I did include the dreaded glitter. lol Close up of the altered mermaid in the shaker card:

Finally, I loaded everything up, wrapped it in tissue paper and mailed it out to my trade partner. I hope she likes it! Here’s how it looks fully stuffed and ready to go:

TFL! If you’re interested in creating and trading LE’s, check out this group on facebook (it’s the one that organized the swap I participated in)…Loaded Envelope Galore.

All the CE products used on my project have been hyperlinked to open in a new window and take you directly to the store listing for more info. The paper kit and cardstock die cuts are made by Kaisercraft and are part of their Mermaid Tails collection.

Visit and follow the Creative Embellishments blog for more creative inspiration provided daily Mon-Fri by their extremely talented DT, plus some weekend shares as well! CE also features a monthly challenge (always pinned to the top of their blog)! Enter for your chance to win a $50 gc from their store!

Hi everyone! I recently participated in a loaded envelope (LE) swap coordinated by a facebook group (Loaded Envelope Galore). The criteria/requirements were pretty simple: The envelope had to be 4″ x 6″ with a minimum of 2 pockets, a large tag to fit the largest/main pocket, 1 envelope with tags, stickers, or other goodies that fit in it, 1 altered paper clip, 1 wand, at least 5 embellishments, at least 2 Alice in Wonderland inspired images, and 5 die cut outs.

This is the first LE I’ve ever made and I even got to use tons of awesome Creative Embellishments goodies on it! I had so much fun creating this project for my swap partner, Raquel, and hope to participate in more swaps in the future! Here’s how it looks fully assembled and stuffed:

For the back, I added an additional gusseted pocket with reinforced slits to threat the lace tie through. The pocket drops open when the ribbon is untied, allowing it to hold more than a flat pocket would allow. I added an octagon shaped folded note with a quote from the book printed onto it. I wrote my partner a note inside:

Here’s the pocket emptied out, shown here with the 2 large tags I created for it and the front of the wand:

Close up 2: The tag on the left features a book stack wood veneer piece from the Graduation Set, an adorable wood veneer Bunny, chipboard playing cards from the Family Game Night set, an adorable little door piece from the Fairy Door Set 1, and 1 Steampunk Timepiece. The tag on the right has a Mini Pocket Watch tucked behind the little Webster’s Pages baggie and the altered Julie Nutting doll. I couldn’t find a JN doll that quite matched what I had in mind, so I used the Candie design, trimmed the short hair off of the sides of her head and drew in long hair. I then sketched out an apron to layer over Candie’s dress, along with the collar, to make her look more like the Alice character.

Close up 3: To make this piece, cut 2 strips of patterned cardstock, punched one edge on each piece, then accordian folded them to create 2 separate rosettes. I adhered 1 on each side of a 3.5″ doily. I set that part aside and got the toppers ready by layering a die cut stickers over punched, scalloped circles, which I then adhered onto 2.5″ doilies. From there, I added the paper straw handle by inserting it between 2 folds on one of the rosettes. Next, I added some string and glued the toppers onto the rosettes to create the double sided wand. To finish it up, I added 2 different laces to the handle.

Close up 4: The back of the wand.

Some of the die cuts and embellishments I created and included. The bundle on the left is a stack of 3 die cut envelopes. The Webster’s Pages baggie on the right contains 4 diecut doilies and several gold accented stickers that I felt went with the Alice in Wonderland theme. 🙂

Close up 1: I used a CE Square Mini Frame to create a mirror embellishment with some foil tape (bought at a hardware store).

Close up 2: A little shaker box embellishment with an image of the caterpillar character inside. The sequins were actually left over from the product swap we had with SpiegleMom Scraps back in March.

I hope Raquel liked what I created for her! On her youtube channel, you can check out her video tour of the incredibly generous package she sent me. She sent me sooo many awesome goodies that it’s actually split into 2 parts! She also has a separate video of her opening this LE that I sent her. 🙂

I’m up on the Creative Embellishments’ Blog toay, sharing a project I created for the cross promotion we’re having with Petaloo! I’m thrilled that I got to participate in this awesome product swap/blog hop between two amazing companies! Creative Embellishments’ fabulous laser cut chipboard, rubber stamps, etc. work beautifully with Petaloo products! Both are so much fun to create with! For the team up, we were asked to create a Mother’s Day themed project. For mine, I went in a different direction. Rather than something to gift to my mother or mil, I decided to create something for one of my children (now I’ll also have to create something for each of the others! LOL). Without my little ones, I would not get to be a mother and I’m thankful for this incredible honor. I do understand and appreciate the fact that not everyone who wants to have children are able to for various reasons, so I’m grateful to have each of them in my life. They’re so unique and talented in their own special ways and I love their similarities as well was their differences…even when they’re driving me nuts. LOL Here’s what I came up with:

***Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check out both the Creative Embellishments Blog AND the Petaloo Blog for some fabulous inspiration from both design teams, combining their products! Leave a comment each day of the hop (April 3rd – 9th) for your chance to with either a $30 gc to the CE store, or an awesome prize pack filled with CE and Petaloo products! 😀 ***